KG Rumors go mainstream

But Garnett might now be amenable to the move, after the fiercely loyal 31-year-old learned how far along the Wolves were in negotiations with Boston in June … and with the Celtics responding to the breakdown of its initial KG pursuit by trading the fifth overall pick in the draft to Seattle for All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen.

Expensive as it would be, Celtics management is understandably salivating at the prospect of teaming Garnett with Allen and franchise mainstay Paul Pierce.

It’s believed that the latest incarnation of the deal would require Boston to package Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair with Jefferson and Ratliff in exchange for Garnett. It’s also likely that other players and/or draft picks would be added to the package if the deal gets Garnett’s signoff.

Marc Stein: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2954127

gut wrenching. What a terrible day for the Celtics.

A fantastic deal if it involves Green and not Rondo. Title contenders, the whole bit. We’d be a fantastic rebounding team and would actually improve defensively with Garnett. Fantastic deal if it gets done.

I don’t comment often, but read this blog religiously. If this deal goes down, we should have our…….make it they should have their name changed, to the Boston Mercenaries.

Been a staunch supporter since the days of Russell and Heinsohn and I really do not like this deal at all. In fact I am sickened by it.

Is Garnett better than Jefferson? Of course he is….. right now. But it takes more than talent. You have to play with your heart. You have to want it. Garnett is a loyal Timberwolf. He will not bring the same loyalty to the wearing of Celtic Green. It just isn’t possible.

Jefferson was raised and weaned a Celtic. He wanted to be here. He wanted to follow in the Russell pathway. Believe me when I tell you there is an intangible value in that. It does not come along very often. And now it’s about to be tossed away and disrespected. Shame on us.

I’ve supported Ainge & Co. since the beginning, but this is a sellout, a betrayal of Celtic Green (and Red) which we’ll all live to regret.

Et tu Brute!

I;m all for it but that part about rondo is scary. Jefferson is enough McHale is getting greedy.

Forgot to say one thing.

I am sickened by this deal and the Celtics will pay dearly.

For those of you who think this changes everything in the quest for #17………..you’re right.

This move will change everything for a long time!

A betrayal of Celtic Green? What the hell are you talking about? Jeez.

Roy,

With all the chatter, I’m sure it’s indeed close and the parameters are what is being reported but could you elaborate more on “the deal has been confirmed”?
Thanks.

KHAAAAAN!

I’m guessing CelticsBlog is going to experience some downtime soon.:-)

i think i speak for everyone when i say, oh snap.

Wow.

As much as I like KG, I’d really like to keep AJ. Everything that has happened this off season has too much of a desparation feel to it. I’m getting the sense that this move is a dead-cat bounce.

You can’t buy love.

You can’t buy health.

You won’t buy #17.

I haven’t felt this way since the morning I heard the news of Len Bias.
The similarities are eerie. Both Len Bias and the current Celtic management share one thing. They did it to themselves and cost the team for years to come.

Please No Garnett.

Thats all I’m gonna say

First of all, comparing all this to the death of Len Bias is at the very least, tactless and ludicrous.

2nd, perhaps if you did some research, you’d realize, including last year, KG has been far more healthy then Al Jefferson.

I can’t decide if I’m elated or crestfallen.

Everyone complains that we aren’t there yet and that we should just wait and let everyone develop… but by then PP and Ray Allen will be way too old to do anything with- If we bring in KG right now, we will not only be a top contender in the East (something EVERYONE wants), but will be a FUN TEAM TO WATCH. As a fan, I’d be ecstatic to watch that version of the C’s… I’d even get the NBA package! Everyone saying ZOMG we have to keep Al, don’t complain when we are one and done next year in the playoffs- Yes, it might be an overall risky/scary/probably bad move, but we can compete for the title with that team. In the NBA, you have to pick your spots and go for it; this is the time for Boston.

KG is the perfect player to go with pierce and ray. His only weakness is not be able to be a crunch time scorer. You have to make this trade, the team is an instant contender no question for two to three years in a time when there is no elite team in the east. With a big that is the defensive caliber of KG you can even can play a team like the spurs or suns and be actually have a good shot. The object is to win a championship, not maybe be in a position to win one in five years. This team needs to take a chance.

edit

Everyone saying ZOMG we have to keep Al, don’t complain when we are one and done next year in the playoffs- IF we make it there at all-

I can’t believe all you people crying about getting KG. It’s just uneblievable. Al Jefferson is a great kid and a fun player. But he isn’t half the player KG is. With KG, this team is a CONTENDER. They are one of maybe five teams with a real shot. And you people are complaining?

What’s wrong with all of you? Are you nuts? This is an incredible trade for Boston. To think they get Garnett when a month ago they were offering the same package plus the #5 pick for him… amazing.

This deal particularly makes sense if Big Al is asking for a max extension, similar to what Dwight Howard just received. As you much as I like Big Al, he does not deserve a max contract (and going by the Rashard Lewis signing, there will be a team out there who will offer max dollars to Big Al should he ever hit the open market).

I would not do this deal.

I just want to see Big Al become the beast he will become in Green, Celtic Green !!!!!! Not another teams colours.

I am in pain.

Please Danny, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

Aussie

I bet that was the snag. AJ probably wanted Max Money and wouldn’t sign for 11-12, so they shipped him out to Minny. KG in Green, wow.

Get it done so we can all move on!..this drama is too much it has to stop.The only way it stops is for KG to be dealt with either to us or we are part of it to get it done, I don’t care anymore just get this done so we all move on…DA give up the farm, so be it, ive had it with this theam ill just follow big al, green, rondo, perk when they move on.

ughhh i just cant stomach seeing al blossom and become an allstar on another team. this is gonna take a long time to get used to for me.

I won’t become a Timberwolves fan if this deal goes through, but I sure as hell will use whatever psychic energy I can muster to root against the Celtics. Partial revenge will come this year when the Celtics win 47 and lose in the second round. The real revenge will come in 2-3 years when Al is rampaging and the big three of PP, RA and KG are limping along.

What would the anti KG say if we kept AJ and we didnt win title in the next 10 years. I’ll take my chances with a known HoFer in KG, as to hoping and praying AJ gets there.

I can’t express how little my interest is for this KG deal. Especially if Al and Rajon are included.

I’m a fan of the Celtics not of any one player. You have to give up something to get something.

Big Al – one almost perfect season in C’s jersey. Played just 69 games last season, 33MPG, he’ll take BIG money this or other season, he’s still just MAYBE FUTURE ALL-STAR (There’s a bunch of NBA players who are maybe future all-stars, you can’t recognize this after one season, until it’s LeBron type).

Kevin Garnett – proven ALL STAR, future HALL OF FAME player for sure, only in 98-99 season he played fewer games per regular season than Big Al played last season – he’s more healthier. He’s a loyal guy. He can play in a best NBA level more than 3 years – he’s 4 years younger (he’s born in 1976´) then Shaq (who was born in 1972) → I think he could play more 7-8 years in Celtics jersey. Pair him with Pierce (born in 1977, but he has the most health problems from all these guys), Ray Allen (born in 1975) for this years. What do you see? I see bigger things than just with Big Al. That’s another Celtics dynasty! ;)

Pierre71 said:
  I’m a fan of the Celtics not of any one player. You have to give up something to get something.

Celtic pride, a now meaningless cliché, is something that all too many present day fans seem to be unfamiliar with. Al in his 3 years here will remain more of a Celtic than Garnett will ever become no matter how long he stays.

I cant believe so many people are against putting KG with Pierce and Allen. What is wrong with you people? Are you afraid of winning a championship? I simply dont get it. I could see the argument before the Allen deal, but now? This would make this the best Celtics offseason (and the best Celtics team) since the Big 3 faded. We would be legitimate championship contenders.

I can’t decide whether I’m nauseous or depressed.
Talk about a small window.
Ugh.
Here’s the only good news: Does anything believe that Ainge’s current rebuilding plans were going to bear championship fruit? I guess in mind maybe it’s the lesser of two evils with Ainge in charge. Without this deal, it didn’t seem like Ainge was equipped to make more modest deals using the MLE and/or Ratliff’s contract, partly because Wyc wouldn’t consider the lux tax.
So Ainge has to shoot the moon, then? I guess. I can’t believe I’d ever actually be depressed about the addition of two All-Star/future Hall-of-Famers in two months, but there you are.

Am I missing something?

I love Big Al, who is going to be a heck of a player, but this is a great trade (assuming they keep Rondo). KG is one of the best players in the game, and the Celts would be real contenders for the next few years. They have a window to really compete for something, before having to blow things up and start over.

Unfortunately, that is the way of the NBA. The Celt’s were stuck in ’tweener land, and would have been committed to mediocrity for years. Now, they have a direction at least, with the best team they have had (talent-wise) since the Big-3 got old together. Sit back and enjoy the next few years.

Big Al is going to be good, but getting Garnett commits the Celts to a direction. It proves the owners are willing to pay more for a legitimate contender (a big worry up to this point), and shows they have a plan (even if Danny came to it by pure chance and a friendship with McHale). In a few years the team will have to be blown up and start over, but the NBA makes teams do that every so often anyway or they are stuck in the middle forever.

I’m excited. I don’t understand how any fan wouldn’t be. Even if you are a “build around the young guys” person, the minute they resigned Pierce this was the only way to go. If they were going to build around the young guys they should have dealt Pierce, but that didn’t happen. At least they finally dove in the water instead of just dipping in a toe.

Time will tell if the deal is worth it, but at least now they have committed in a direction. It should be a fun ride, one way or the other.

I love Big Al…but KG gives us a legitimate shot at the finals!! Think about…Celtics in the finals this coming season. Does it hurt us long term? Yes. But its the here and now. Its time to go for it.